A couple years ago for one of our Christmas shows, I played the part of Simeon. Lori Boutieller asked me to do it, and I always do what she asks!

Anyhow, I was thinking – this is what everything has now come to!  I’m now typecast as the old man in the Christmas story! Well, I guess I do look the part! You know – dignified, and all that!

But consider this: here is how it progresses if you are a male, and a life-long church attender. When you are a baby, you play the part of Jesus (even though you can’t remember doing it). Then, as a child, you get to be an angel, or a shepherd (and be creeped-out by wearing your bathrobe on the stage). As a young adult, Joseph is your role. When you get to be a bit older adult, you become a wise man. Next, as a more seasoned gentleman, you are given the fun part of playing the innkeeper. And finally, when you are about to die, someone like Lori comes along and says, “Could you dress up and be Simeon this year?” Sure, I’ll do it! Why … it is the pinnacle moment of a lifetime of Christmas thespianism! The next stop is heaven. It has to be; there are no more parts!

It says in Luke 2:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”